Double-murder trial of #Afrikaans farm-couple Van Heerden turned into a circus by 3 black suspects

3 black suspected double-killers of Van Heerden farm-couple turn Belfast murder trial into a joke, a circus: --------------------- Aug 12 2014: Gerhard Rheeder of The Rekord daily in Belfast writes that the three double-murder accused suspects, Bongani Joseph Ncongwane, Irvin Brown Nkosi and Sibusiso Charles Sibanyoni are laughing, joking as the evidence of their gruesome torture-murders are coming to light. The happy threesome are charged with strangling the elderly Afrikaans couple on 9 January 2013 and stuffing them in a freezer. A trial-within-a-trial now has to decide whether Mrs van Heerden was still alive when they did so. Picture ltr: Erupting with frequent laughter at their own trial are Bongani Jospeh Ncongwane (23), Irvin Brown Nkosi (19) and Sibusiso Charles Sibanyoni (27). State-pathologist Dr Ferdinant Blok testified that Mrs Van Heerden was alive when she was dumped in the freezer. The three happy suspects pleaded not guilty to all charges - but on Thursday Ncongwane admitted that the details he had pointed out and a statement he had to a senior police officer about the double murders, had been provided voluntarily. The agreed that the documents and albums submitted to the trial can be used as evidence. However accused Nkosi and Sibanyoni claimed they were 'threatened' by the police during their questioning - hence a trial-within-a-trial has to rule whether the evidence is legally acceptable or not. The State submitted that the police had found a Seko wrist watch belonging to the murdered farmer with one of the accused men's sister. And Mrs Van Heerden's pistol, also stolen during the double-murder, was found with Nkosi when he was arrested for other violent crimes in Mamelodi. During this arrest he had fallen off a high wall and these caused the bruises which the State believes Nkosi's defence council will use as 'evidence' that he had been beaten by the police. He had put up a fierce defence, shooting back at the police. The firearm he used in this firefight was traced back by the Mamelodi police to the murdered Mrs van Heerden. When the elderly Afrikaner couple were found in their freezer, their necks were wound around with bonds and their arms and legs were tied up together. It was noted by the journalist that the three suspects get loud verbal comments from two young girls in the gallery who are constantly calling out to the laughing and joking suspects in the dock as 'you f..g criminals'. ( It's not known why the magistrate does not order them to leave ) Meanwhile Nkosi was also jokes with two journalists from the Observer newspaper, showing handsigns and telling the journalists to 'make him famous'. The trial continues with the three suspects getting a chance to testify about their version of events. http://www.rekordmoot.co.za